Matt Cavanaugh, a former resident of St. Paul and Woodbury, and a captain in the U.S. Army. He is running a series of marathons and other events to raise money for Wounded Warriors, which helps injured veterans.

Matt Cavanaugh, a former resident of St. Paul and Woodbury, and a captain in the U.S. Army. He is running a series of marathons and other events to raise money for Wounded Warriors, which helps injured veterans.

Every time Matt Cavanaugh crosses a finish line, his mind plays a trick on him.

“The last mile or the last minute consists of absolute pain,” said Cavanaugh. “Then, when you are done, you have this feeling you can do anything. I feel bulletproof.”

Unfortunately, wounded veterans never feel that way. They feel hurt and vulnerable — which is why Cavanaugh, a one-time Woodbury resident and a captain in the U.S. Army, runs in races to raise money for them.

As part of his nationwide running campaign, Cavanaugh will be racing in the Afton Trail Run 25-kilometer race today.

“I always find the greatest support in Minnesota,” he said.

His grand finale also will be in Minnesota, running in a 10-mile race as part of the Twin Cities Marathon in October.

“There is nothing better than coming back to your home state,” he said.

Cavanaugh grew up in St. Paul and moved to Woodbury before graduating from high school. He went on to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the University of St. Thomas law school.

While serving two tours in Iraq, he saw plenty of bloodshed. He is haunted by memories of comrades who died in the conflict and the horror of seeing friends severely wounded — such as one basketball-playing buddy who lost an arm.

Cavanaugh started his running campaign last winter, with a goal of raising $25,000 in 2009. He has raised $31,000 so far, setting a new goal of $50,000 for the year.

He has run races as short as a one-mile race in Pennsylvania and as long as the 114-mile TransRockies Run in Colorado.

The money will go to the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps disabled veterans.

Veterans get basic care from the government, Cavanaugh said. But Wounded Warriors gives them more.

Bob is a 40-year veteran (yes, he is grizzled) who edited one Pulitzer Prize winner and wrote two that were nominated. He has also worked in Des Moines, Colorado Springs and Palo Alto. He writes about the suburbs, the environment, housing, religion -- anything but politics. Secret pleasures: Kayaking on the Mississippi on the way to work, doughnuts brought in by someone else. Best office prank: Piling more papers onto Fred Melo’s already trash-covered desk.

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